It’s picture day for 7th grader Andrew Yaeger and he is looking sharp in a new, name brand collared shirt and is determined to take the kind of picturIt’s picture day for 7th grader Andrew Yaeger and he is looking sharp in a new, name brand collared shirt and is determined to take the kind of picture that his mom will be proud to hang on the wall. But the fates have another idea. Thus begins the day from you know where and making everything worse is the fact that Andrew struggles with anxiety and has some stemming habits that he is trying to keep hidden. So with every encounter with Mean Gene, every errant basketball that connects with his face and each mishap in the science lab, the tension grows from a cold little popcorn kernel to one that has been sitting in hot oil and is ready to pop. Fortunately, Andrew has best friend Jonesy by his side, a nurse who not only can tend to his black eye but can repair his Gene-ripped shirt, a mom who loves him unconditionally, a counselor who has handed him a few tools, and several teachers and one administrator who are ready, willing and able to support him.
Rob Harrell (author of WINK and the hilarious LIFE OF ZARF) draws on his own experiences with anxiety, OCD and panic attacks to give authenticity to Andrew’s feelings and uses his drawing skills and quick wit to provide some moments of relief so that readers don’t find themselves drowning in Andrew’s intense emotions. POPCORN may help those with similar feelings find the words to describe what is going on in their hearts and minds and to seek help until they find it. Those who have never battled the overwhelming pressure of panic pressing them down may gain a better understanding of what some people in their lives do feel, better preparing them to be supportive.
Text is free of profanity and sexual content. While there is a bully, there is little violence other than that done by a basketball and a test tube confined explosion plus an errant ketchup bottle rocket. Highly recommended for grades 4-7.
Thanks for the print arc, Penguin Random House....more
Gordon Korman just keeps putting out fantastic books for middle grade students! Old School is his 105th book and he still creates new and wonderful stGordon Korman just keeps putting out fantastic books for middle grade students! Old School is his 105th book and he still creates new and wonderful stories that keep me turning pages as fast as I can and providing reminders that our kids are something special.
This title focuses on a 7th grade boy who has lived most of his life with his grandmother in a condo in a senior living community. Lack of proper registration as a homeschooled student results in a visit from a truancy officer and puts Dex into a public middle school for the first time and it is awkward with a capital A. After a short time and a unjustified suspension, nearly the whole school rallies behind him, begins to show up at the senior center and finds that hanging out with those age 60+ is fun! Of course it wouldn’t happen in real life. Unfortunately, our kids don’t have always that sense of justice and ability to unify in support of a cause so completely. BUT, it’s nice to think they could and the sheer rightness of their actions will make readers cheer!! There is laughter, tears and kids being kids and I had one of those sighs of satisfaction at the end that means I gave it 5 stars, which is very rare for me.
Main characters Dexter, Gianna and her brother Ronny, Jackson, and strong supporting characters Ms Napier and Teagan each tell what is happening in their own chapters providing multiple views of the same event. The group represents typical personalities present at any school-Dexter is a bit of an oddball whose intelligence puts him at the top of the class very quickly. Gianna is a budding newspaper reporter with integrity. Brother Ronny is an obnoxious bully, has repeated a grade and may have to repeat another if he doesn’t pull things together. Jackson is a stellar athlete and was at the top of the class until Dex arrived. Ms Napier, unlike the clueless principal, actually seems to like and understand the tweens and teens on campus. Teagan is one of those fair weather friends who has decided that what ever is important to her should be the biggest priority for all. Korman develops each personality clearly but even the “bad guys” have traits that should evoke some sympathy and understanding with readers.
Korman keeps his works free of profanity, sexual content and any violence is kept mild. Page count is under 300 pages, making it more accessible than many other books being published for the grades 4-8 crowd.
Hannah loves to play her violin and how it feels in her arms but she does not want to perform in today’s recital and hopes for something wild to happeHannah loves to play her violin and how it feels in her arms but she does not want to perform in today’s recital and hopes for something wild to happen so she doesn’t have to. The author/illustrator has birds swoop into her bedroom and fly off with her clothes, bunnies dig up into the family’s kitchen to create a ruckus and steal her violin, dolphins burst out of a water fountain and whisk her away but none of those things happen and her time to shine arrives. The message is clear-there is nothing wrong with being nervous, but you can do brave things despite those anxious feelings. Great topic for SEL lessons, plenty of opportunity to discuss feelings and ways to handle them, plus a terrific way to stimulate creative thinking about other wild things Hannah might have wished for. Illustrations are done is soft shades using charcoal, pastel, acrylic paint and digital tools. Target audience: age 3-8.
Thank you for a copy of this beautiful picture book, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library....more
Tate isn’t sure what extra curricular activity fits but when Eli Violet, a child prodigy, is heard playing their viola, a new string instrument playerTate isn’t sure what extra curricular activity fits but when Eli Violet, a child prodigy, is heard playing their viola, a new string instrument player is born! A summer camp designed to improve orchestra members’ abilities while also participating in the usual arts & crafts, swimming and sports activities is offered, Tate snaps at the chance to improve. Surprisingly, Eli Violet is there, too, but under an assumed name as they try to overcome a severe case of burnout coupled with intense anxiety. The two become friends and begin to share thoughts and feelings with one another and soon realize that they have similarities well beyond simply playing the viola—both are non-binary and both are struggling with anxiety. Tate and Eli make a deal to help one another leading Tate to not only earn section leader status and the big solo during the end of summer concert but to come out to friends and family.
The subtle advice to tweens and early teens about seeking out help for emotional struggles in a variety of places begins right away and may be of real benefit to readers whether to help them find relief for their own panic or to gain some understanding of others. A message of working hard, goal setting and determination to improve skills comes through loud and clear without seeming “preachy.” The coming out aspect of Camp Prodigy did seem rather contrived with Eli Violet coming from a two mom family and finding it easy to announce their pronouns of they/them to everyone and Tate only needing one month to gain the courage to come out to new friends and his family. The responses from all was easy acceptance and understanding which is fairly unrealistic. The action of a camp counselor asking each camper to share their name and pronouns during the first meet and greet may be common in some areas, but would not be typical in others.
Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Representation: Black and Caucasian characters, several non-binary characters and Eli Violet has two moms, campers’ body shapes, clothing choices and hairstyles demonstrate a great variety, one camper is on the spectrum. Target age group: grades 5-8.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Publishing....more
“It’s okay to let your guard down. It’s okay to let yourself be seen. It’s okay to share your heart with other people. Not everyone will be gentle wit“It’s okay to let your guard down. It’s okay to let yourself be seen. It’s okay to share your heart with other people. Not everyone will be gentle with it. Some will etch little cracks in it. Some will make giant breaks. But cracks and breaks eventually mend. Hearts hidden behind thousand-foot-high, twelve-inch-thick walls don’t. They don’t even get the chance.”
Victoria ends her story of the summer before 8th grade with this thought after finally allowing Kyle to step into her family’s life as her mother’s husband and some kind of dad for her, older brother Jack and younger sister Maggie. In the first book about Victoria and her family, Dad has left for another woman and deeply wounds them with the jagged and permanent break he makes from all four. Now, mom has met a new man who is doing all that he can to demonstrate that he wants to be a permanent part of the family but Victoria is just as determined to make him leave.
The anxiety felt by Victoria over so many things is palpable and almost overwhelming. She is afraid of her dad calling and not calling, she fears the loss of her best friend but continues to push Sarah away, and her preoccupation with the changes in her body presses down on not her, but readers as well. Ultimately, the message of allowing people to know you and be a real part of your life comes through, but at no point is there any suggestion that Victoria (and likely the whole family) needs help processing the grief and damage caused by Dad’s abandonment and Victoria, specifically, could benefit from some counseling over ways to cope with anxiety and an unhealthy view of her own body. Author R.L. Toalson demonstrates a real gift in conveying the depth of emotion felt by Victoria throughout the book but this is definitely not a title for everyone and some could find it triggering should they have similar family trauma or battle body image-related anxiety.
Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. Race of all characters is left up to the imagination of the reader except that Victoria is pictured as Caucasian on the book cover I had. While a sequel, I read this one easily without having read The First Magnificent Summer. Recommended for grades 5-8.
Thanks for sharing an electronic arc with me, Edelweiss....more
Three kids, all dealing with significant losses, find connections and ways to help each other cope with their situations. Tildy has lost the necklace Three kids, all dealing with significant losses, find connections and ways to help each other cope with their situations. Tildy has lost the necklace her mom gifted her and is afraid that will be the “last straw” factor that causes her to leave the family again when she has only been back for a short time. Leon’s grandfather has died, left him and his grandmother alone and he is afraid she will be lost in the “Depths of Despair” unless he manages to contact the spirit of his dead relative. New to town Nell and her mom have lost their home and almost everything they own to a hurricane and this loss is on the heels of the death of Nell’s mum. Told in alternating chapters from the perspective of each young person, readers will be rooting for the trio to regain the security and joy in life that we all yearn for. Excellent character development in the three main characters and Tildy’s younger sister Marguerite; strong supporting roles played by Tildy’s parents, Nell’s mom, Leon’s grandmother and even the dearly departed Frederica Verne. The conclusion is ultimately positive but I’m pretty sure that not all will expect all three resolutions to play out like they do. Representation: Nell has two moms, Tildy has a traditional family and Leon lives with grandparents and does not have relationship with either of his parents. Race of the characters is left vague and even naming conventions do not lean towards any particular group meaning that readers can attach their own choices to characters unless they dwell on the cover for too long! Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Target audience is likely grades 4-6 even though the trio are all in junior high school.
Thanks for the print arc, Peachtree Publishing....more
Who hasn’t felt “crushed” at one time or another? For Sophie, feeling crushed means crowds, changing friendships, unwelcome contact with a boy who getWho hasn’t felt “crushed” at one time or another? For Sophie, feeling crushed means crowds, changing friendships, unwelcome contact with a boy who gets too up close and personal, the fall out from misused dares shared on social media and panic attacks she does not know how to stop. Melanie Conklin (Every Missing Piece, A Perfect Mistake) tackles so many very real battles being faced by young people every day and in each situation and models ways to find help-a therapist, a grandmother, new friends, parents, a caring school nurse. The book moves quickly and its realistic plot and strong characterization should keep readers engaged while they, hopefully, see some wisdom they can use in their own lives. Representation: Race of main characters is unclear, but two players in the story select they/them pronouns or use ones different than those assigned at birth. Important issues tackled in this one targeted at grades 5-8....more
Another winner for middle grade readers from the author of Partly Cloudy, Serena Says, and Figure It Out, Henri Walden. Rylee has had a steady best frAnother winner for middle grade readers from the author of Partly Cloudy, Serena Says, and Figure It Out, Henri Walden. Rylee has had a steady best friend group for the last few years but shortly before 8th grade begins, the group plays an embarrassing and downright mean-spirited trick on her, leaving her floundering and wondering if lunch was going to be alone reading a book or hiding in the library from now on. In response to the loss of those she had planned her 8th grade elective courses with, Rylee joins several classes and activities where Aaliyah and her group of sycophants won’t be. Journalism puts her with several people she has known fleetingly but certainly didn’t count as friends and being assigned to work on a series of newspaper articles on what makes friendships work or not work with DeNia may be harder than it would be to stick it out with Aaliyah.
Terrific characters that will resemble many in the schools of readers. There is a mix of ethnic backgrounds, with some being defined outright and others only vaguely referenced using adjectives like brown and some descriptions of hairstyles that could be attributed more to one population than others. But unlike in Partly Cloudy, the main characters’ races are not critical to the plot, how they treat each other is. Throughout the book and as DeNia and Rylee research scholarly articles, survey and observe people from a wide range of ages, readers will see positive and negative examples of being friends, times when friends are simply bystanders and others when they are upstanders, and will likely experience some frustration when Rylee keeps making mistakes. Ultimately, Rylee finds her people and in a way that may help those reading her story to do the same.
The story centers on students in the 8th grade, but illustration of Rylee on the book cover and many of the interactions between the characters make them several years younger. The likely readers for this excellent book are those in grades 4-6. Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content. A few characters mention liking another and similar but pairing off as a couple does not occur. Representation: Black, Hispanic, AAPI and Caucasian characters, a question to an advice column writer in the newspaper refers to a friend who uses they/them as pronouns.
With a summary surprisingly similar to another mid 2024 release, Gordon Korman’s Faker, I was uncertain how Perry’s story would line up with Trey’s buWith a summary surprisingly similar to another mid 2024 release, Gordon Korman’s Faker, I was uncertain how Perry’s story would line up with Trey’s but with so many terrific books already under Beth Vrabel’s belt, I shouldn’t have worried. Both con artist/traveler/grifter families are out to get something for nothing, both main characters want something different for themselves and schools feature in each but the way those parts fit together is very different and the end results are equally satisfying. Perry’s family turned “bad” when everything fell apart after his mom’s battle against cancer, however, that catalyst is not made clear until well after readers are likely to dislike dad, mom, and Uncle Manny’s for their conniving and cheating and feel indignant on behalf of the teenage twins, 13 yr old Perry, 10 year old voluntarily mute Riley, spunky 7ish Pauly and the baby that they couldn’t be bothered to name! Some of the family cons are humorous, some unbelievable and others straight out of the news but between all the places they visit and the sneakiness done, the entertainment level is high. Added bonus at the Homers’ final destination is solid information about animal rescue and big cats, in particular. Other readalikes besides Korman’s Faker, either due to travels or terminal illness would include Far From Fair (Elana Arnold), Clean Getaway (Nic Stone), Wrong Way Summer (Heidi Lang) and both Coyote Sunrise books (Dan Gemeinhart) Text is free of sexual content and violence and while the text states or implies that a character or two might use some “vulgarity,” none is actually written out.
Terrific early chapter book and first in a new series for younger elementary-aged readers! Sentences are short, much repetition and plenty of picture Terrific early chapter book and first in a new series for younger elementary-aged readers! Sentences are short, much repetition and plenty of picture clues and textual context to help with more challenging and possibly unfamiliar words for objects found in a seaside location. Illustrations by Lynnor Bontiagao are on every page and have details that provide for additional conversation/vocabulary building when used as a read aloud and several chapters end with questions that allow for many possible answers to further deepen thinking. Illustrations reveal main characters to be both dark and light skinned and imply different family configurations such as multi-generational. All six children exhibit different interests and each create and play in ways that are relatable to most grade 1-3 students, although the absence of adult supervision while roaming the town and beach is a bit unrealistic! Excellent addition to libraries serving younger readers.
Thanks for the print arc, Amulet/Abrams Kids/Hachette Book Group....more
Lois Lowry has written many wonderful books and this one ranks right up there with the best of them. The story of 11 year old Sophia and her dearest fLois Lowry has written many wonderful books and this one ranks right up there with the best of them. The story of 11 year old Sophia and her dearest friend Sophie, who happens to be 88 years old, is thoughtful, warm, sad and happy, all stirred together beautifully. When Sophia finds out that Sophie’s son is having his mom evaluated for possible dementia and may move her into an assisted living facility closer to him and far away from her, she sets her mind on fixing the problem. But in the course of some sharing of memories of her childhood in the midst of World War II and some careful observations of a young neighbor friend who is likely on the spectrum, Sophia comes to some very tough realizations: 1) some problems can’t be fixed, and 2) some things that seem like problems really aren’t. I read Tree.Table.Book through in one sitting and know that this will be a book that readers of Barbara O’Connor, Cynthia Lord, Lisa Graff, and maybe even Gordon Korman and Jordan Sonnenblick will connect with. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and violence. Representation: Jewish, Catholic, Methodist and non-religious families; single mom, older widow and traditional two parent homes. Highly recommended for grades 4-7.
Note: Not too thrilled with the cover art and think that librarians will need to put it into the hands of potential readers, create shelf talkers, include in an author talk of Lowry works, etc. until the word gets out.
Chris Lynch, author of YA books such as Freewill, Iceman, and Gypsy Dancer, enters the world of middle grade novels with this story of change. Louis hChris Lynch, author of YA books such as Freewill, Iceman, and Gypsy Dancer, enters the world of middle grade novels with this story of change. Louis has always been known for lack of engaging with the world around him to such an extent that his mother has dubbed him the “INactivist,” but this summer he finds that about to change. A forced dog sitting gig reveals a camaraderie that exists between Louis and the four-legged (and sometimes even three) and a lucrative dog-walking business begins. That business leads to meeting new people, making a few friends, coming to grips with his mother’s current stint in a rehab facility for her addiction to pain-killers, and discovering that life is better with a pack instead of going it alone. Lynch does an excellent job of conveying Louis’ solitary life and the changes over time as well as creating memorable characters in bossy little sister Faye, overbearing and hostile elder brother Ike, friendly but struggling with a difficult home life Agatha and all-around good guy Cy. The introductory section starts slowly and may lose readers before they are fully immersed in what develops within several storylines, but once the main players are actively engaged in their contributions to Louis’ changes in thinking and behaving, older elementary and middle school students will want to reach the book’s satisfying conclusion. Race is not a real factor in Walkin’ the Dog, but Cy is from a Haitian background. Louis’ family is middle of the road financially and Agatha and Cy’s families struggle to make ends meet. Families represented by dog owners and of the main characters have diverse compositions. There is no violence or sexual content but there is one F-bomb that seemed to be placed there to show how ineffective Louis is in making a good argument even with a strong expletive. (It is my hope that the final edition deletes this word.)
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster for Young Readers....more
Much like Haven in Haven in “Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet,” main character Olive battles anxiety and finds an environmental issue she adopts passionaMuch like Haven in Haven in “Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet,” main character Olive battles anxiety and finds an environmental issue she adopts passionately and sets out to make a difference. Readers of both books will see the similarities but both are well-written, enjoyable and one is not a carbon copy of the other.
Olive has several key issues that have contributed to her intense reluctance to speak to less familiar people and certainly to more than one person at a time. She watched her father battle myeloma and finally succumb to it and she faced wildfires that threatened her and those she loved. Now, she finds herself alone in the evenings and on weekends while her lawyer mother puts in long hours fighting for families. The rock Olive stands on is her long time friendship with Kayla and with her help, Olive knows she can face whatever 7th grade throws at her and that includes earning a spot at a renowned film camp that she believes will be the launching place for her much-anticipated career in directing films.
An encounter with an angry woman chasing a beaver while wielding a frying pan sets Olive on a path to change current laws in Oregon in order to protect not only the state’s animal symbol, but a lynchpin in the ecosystem. A crucial assignment in film class partners Olive with Jo, a girl she & Kayla dubbed Mean Vegan Jo and David, a boy who tends to disappear into the crowd as much as she does. These two big events set Olive on a course that leads to a broken promise, a huge falling out with Kayla, and a panic attack that drops her to the floor and requires EMS intervention.
Resolution is a mixed bag of just what Olive wants & not, but overall, concludes just like any 4th-7th grader would want it to end. Readers will come away with a great deal of new knowledge about the behaviors and importance of beavers as well as some food for thought about anxiety and ways to deal with it, whether that anxiety is intense enough to need professional help or the kind that can be processed by talking with a friend, teacher, etc or adding journaling to a daily routine. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and the only violence is that of the frying pan swinging woman. Representation: Olive and Kayla are Black, Jo uses they/them pronouns, most other characters’ racial heritages are left to the imagination of the reader.
Wonderful book with MC learning how to speak up for herself, help her mother’s home boutique grow, handle social media and address the anxiety that isWonderful book with MC learning how to speak up for herself, help her mother’s home boutique grow, handle social media and address the anxiety that is beginning to be a significant factor in her life. Deena’s family is Pakistani-American and live in the Virginia/greater Washington DC area in a middle class neighborhood. She is bright, attractive and has amazing artistic skills that are just beginning to coalescence into something that might become a future career. All is not perfect, however. Her parents are frequently overheard arguing about financial decisions, and phone/social media usage is affecting relationships. The most pressing concern is the growing feelings of nausea, inability to eat, and at times, panic and difficulty breathing. Hena Khan skillfully develops clear personalities for Deena, her immediate family, two best friends plus a cousin and aunt while revealing many good things in her life along with the challenges. By building in caring school personnel and a community-focused artist, Khan reveals a variety of ways for her character (and readers) to address each struggle in positive ways. Not every situation is resolved to a finish point, but the conclusion leaves everyone in a place where growth and resolution seem entirely likely. Great connections to be made for middle grade students and with Pakistani culture woven throughout by incorporating commonly expressed Urdu phrases, mom’s boutique that caters towards desi clothing styles, as well as Middle Eastern food and wedding practices. While no glossary is included nor footnotes, context is rich and comprehension will not be hindered when cultural references are made. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-7, especially those with high circulation in realistic fiction.
Thanks for the print arc, Salaam Reads/Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing....more
Chanel Miller’s main character Magnolia stems from some of her own life experiences and respect for hard-working immigrant families. Magnolia’s parentChanel Miller’s main character Magnolia stems from some of her own life experiences and respect for hard-working immigrant families. Magnolia’s parents own and run a New York City laundromat and sometimes that work leaves her feeling a little forgotten. But a bunch of lost socks that need to be reunited with their owners and a new girl lead to discovering that people aren’t always what they seem and everyone (and their socks) have a story to tell. Sweet book that may be slightly unrealistic, but readers in grades 3-5 are likely to enjoy how the girls match socks to owners, find new friends and learn much about apologizing and speaking what you need. Frequent sketches add a whimsical note to the book. Free of profanity, sexual content and only one episode of violence when Iris’ mother’s exercise gym is vandalized and a hurtful message is sprayed on the window. Representation: a variety of family configurations, AAPI main characters
Thanks for the print arc, Penguin Random House....more
Andrea Wang reaches into her own experiences attending a Chinese culture camp and interviews of others who have attended similar camps or are simply cAndrea Wang reaches into her own experiences attending a Chinese culture camp and interviews of others who have attended similar camps or are simply connected to Chinese heritage in some way to write a book about the same. Main character and rising 8th grader Phee/Phoenny has attended the same camp for years, has a close knit group of friends who are also repeat participants and their group, The Squad, has been looking forward to being the most senior campers and all the extra privileges that go with that status. But attendance is up, new groups are formed and Phee and her best friend Lyr are not only separated from their friends, they are forced to contend with a group of first timers who absolutely do not want to be there. As all good middle grade lit does, the girls begin to compare experiences and appreciate not only their similarities, but their differences and find that they all have something to offer as each girl connects with her heritage in some way. Wang throws in some expected drama in the who likes who department and some talk of dating and Phee develops strong feelings for a slightly older counselor in training. All is kept very low key in the physical expressions of affections but there is plenty of flirting, gift giving and almost kisses. Camp activities are typical in the sense that they attend craft and sporty classes but unique in that all of them reflect Chinese culture-calligraphy, martial arts, the playing of instruments common in Asian-Pacific parts of the world, ribbon dancing, etc. The camp does experience some bigoted remarks and racial slurs on its social media page and the senior campers and some of the counselor crew come up with a creative way to shut it down. There is something for everyone in this summer camp book and is highly recommended for grades 4-7. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Representation: Chinese heritage for sure, but in a variety of ways-through adoption, recent immigration, being American-born Chinese and more; descriptions of campers reveal diversity in body types, hair styles, and special interests; one camper has come out as homosexual and her crush on another girl at camp is known to those in her group but is an almost incidental part of the book.
Lina, from Finally Seen, continues to battle the social hierarchy at Winfield Elementary and Kelly Yang uses this playing field to focus on the potentLina, from Finally Seen, continues to battle the social hierarchy at Winfield Elementary and Kelly Yang uses this playing field to focus on the potential for harm social media and the Internet have on kids and their parents. Main characters still include Lina and her best friends Carla and Finn plus Jessica, the student who joined with her mom in getting Lina’s favorite book/author banned from the school library. Lina’s mom and sister are key players as is favorite teacher, Mrs Carter. The bath bomb business started by the women in the Gao family that seemed to be the answer to the never ending struggle to earn enough cash to pay the bills is floundering and Mom begins an Instagram account to post videos and boost sales. “Modern Mama” is born, sales take off, and Mrs Gao begins to lose herself in producing more and more content, checking her likes, and responding to the negative comments. Lina inherits mom’s old phone and is immediately sucked into the world of chat rooms and videos that flood her feed based on her searches for things related to her changing body which leads to increased feelings of body negativity and obsession with what everyone is or might be saying about her. Mrs. Carter and the school counselor host a Social Media Awareness parent/student evening, cyberbullying and online predators are revealed resulting in damaged relationships. Ultimately, Lina’s family begins to implement limits and changes to their Internet and social media usage and positive change occurs between all of the featured friends and families. Outstanding messages of Internet safety, effects of too much screen time with emphasis on the negative influence of social media, as well as wise lessons on handling conflict face to face rather than through text or chat rooms. Yang keeps her book free of profanity, sexual content and violence and characters represent a wide variety of family configurations, economic strata and ethnic backgrounds. Pair with Sydney Dunlap’s It Happened on Saturday and while more focused on gaming and much more light-hearted, Gordon Korman’s Slacker and Level 13.
Content note: Part of Lina’s body image negativity stems from her fears surrounding puberty and the accompanying breast development and the subject arises frequently. Buying her first bra is a significant event and, by the end of the book, she is viewing the natural changes in a more positive light.
Nina feels either invisible or so out of place that she wishes she was invisible. Her hobby of studying all things “bird” really sets her apart from oNina feels either invisible or so out of place that she wishes she was invisible. Her hobby of studying all things “bird” really sets her apart from others in her family and at school and she wonders if she’ll ever find a niche where she feels both comfortable and seen by those who understand and like her. Summer camp plans have always handled by her mom, but this year, with encouragement from her older sister, Nina asked to spend the summer with her Aunt Audrey, an outdoor enthusiast and camp owner/director, who is also seen as a bit different. Camp provides Nina with not only plenty of opportunities to enjoy nature but when she discovers a pair of nesting endangered whooping cranes who aren’t supposed to be in Texas, she discovers a sense of purpose and a group of girls who just might be that niche she’s been searching for. Readers from Texas will love all the references to places like Buc-ee’s and the best ice cream on the planet, Bluebell! Everyone will connect with Nina’s insecurities and hope for good friends. Great nature knowledge sprinkled liberally throughout a great story and fans of camera and phone tech will appreciate the inclusion of many tools used to identify individual cranes. Kelly’s descriptions of the marsh area and the nesting cranes are detailed and give ample material for ELA teachers. Excellent choice for grades 4-6. Text is free of profanity, sexual content and violence. Physical descriptions are limited as are any cultural references so race of characters is left to the imagination of the reader.
Lisa Fipps (Starfish) writes another masterful book that will tug at readers’ heartstrings and help them put themselves into someone else’s shoes. BeiLisa Fipps (Starfish) writes another masterful book that will tug at readers’ heartstrings and help them put themselves into someone else’s shoes. Being in Joe’s shoes means homelessness, abandonment, poverty, hunger, and fear. But Fipps inserts supportive characters like Grandmum, Uncle Frankie and best friends Hakeem and Nick to keep the overall tone from getting too heavy and who may also encourage readers to be the help that someone else might need. The idea of “And then. Boom!” meaning that life will often hand us some “and then this happens” transitions that lead to bigger “boom” events is completely relatable and applies to many big and small situations in the lives of everyone. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4 and up. Would pair nicely with Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch or Chicken Boy by Francis O’Roark Dowell.
Thanks for an eARC, NetGalley.
Merged review:
Lisa Fipps (Starfish) writes another masterful book that will tug at readers’ heartstrings and help them put themselves into someone else’s shoes. Being in Joe’s shoes means homelessness, abandonment, poverty, hunger, and fear. But Fipps inserts supportive characters like Grandmum, Uncle Frankie and best friends Hakeem and Nick to keep the overall tone from getting too heavy and who may also encourage readers to be the help that someone else might need. The idea of “And then. Boom!” meaning that life will often hand us some “and then this happens” transitions that lead to bigger “boom” events is completely relatable and applies to many big and small situations in the lives of everyone. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4 and up. Would pair nicely with Rex Ogle’s Free Lunch or Chicken Boy by Francis O’Roark Dowell.
New early chapter book for grades 1-3 that is sure to be popular. Told in short chapters with frequent sketches, Ava Lin is excited to start first graNew early chapter book for grades 1-3 that is sure to be popular. Told in short chapters with frequent sketches, Ava Lin is excited to start first grade and plans to meet her best friend forever right away, just like her older cousin did. Ava Lin does meet a girl who is looks like she could be the one, but mistakes are made and need to be fixed and maybe, in time, the two will become best friends. Realistic storyline with simple message and a touch of humor and only 92 pages with plenty of white space and easy to read font. , Thanks for sharing a print arc with arc-sharing group #BookAllies, Candlewick Press....more
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